Seanad debates

Wednesday, 24 May 2023

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Special Educational Needs

10:30 am

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Lombard for raising this important matter. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. This year, the Department of Education will spend in excess of €2 billion, or over 25% of its budget, on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special needs. I am pleased to say we have secured an additional €2 million funding in budget 2023. This represents an increase of almost 60%, or about €5.5 million, in funding this year versus about €3.7 million which was eventually spent last year. This increased allocation supports my Department’s commitment to ensure that a full range of resources, and not just teachers, are available.

The assistive technology scheme is provided by the Department of Education to supplement the overall approach to providing funding to schools for digital technology and equipment to support children for education purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children who require essential specialist equipment in order to access the school curriculum. We see assistive technology as a critical enabler for those with special educational needs to gain the maximum benefit from a modern, technologically focused education system, and this increased allocation shows the continued commitment to ensuring that a full range of resources, not just teachers, are available to support children with needs.

There has been a large increase in demand for assistive technology in 2022 over previous years, so that the number of applications has risen by 44% to 6,845. There has been a substantial increase in the number of applications received, but it is important to note that the success rate has remained consistent. Senator Lombard has drawn attention to the Ombudsman. I followed up with the Department on that. The Senator might give more details on that. The current success rate is 72% consistently per year, as it was in 2022. That means that 28% are not recommended by the special educational needs organisers, SENOs.

With regard to the application process - Senator Lombard made reference to this earlier - the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, through its network of local SENOs, is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including applications for assistive technology. The SENOs make recommendations to the Department where assistive technology is required operating within the departmental Circular 10/2013. Senator Lombard made a reference to a previous circular; he might elaborate on that.

I want to go to the core of Senator Lombard's question. I wish to confirm that the Department of Education is currently reviewing the scheme to ensure that it is working as effectively as possible for these children, and that the resources are allocated appropriately as we move from a diagnosis-based system to a needs-based system. The review is ongoing and is expected to be completed by autumn 2023. I would suggest, respectfully, that Senator Lombard follows up with a submission of his own to the Department on this particular matter. There appears to be a lot of detail. It is all about children reaching their potential, and we do not want a delay in them getting the assistive technology. This process will have a consultative element and relevant stakeholders will be invited to participate. I certainly feel that Senator Lombard very much falls within that category, as his colleagues do.

As I have mentioned, this scheme is part of an overall approach. In April 2022, the Department of Education announced the digital strategy for schools to 2027, and associated grant funding for all recognised primary and post-primary schools for digital technology infrastructure. By way of a quick overview, as part of this strategy an ICT grant will be provided to schools, with €200 million committed over the period of the strategy. This approach facilitates multi-annual planning by schools to allow them to plan effectively for all of their children. The Department also funds broadband connectivity to all recognised primary schools and post-primary schools through the schools broadband programme at an annual cost of €13 million. Senator Lombard made reference to education for the teachers and the schools themselves. It is an integrated approach. Once schools get direct ICT funding on ICT, it is a question of how they can use that to assist our children. There may be situations where a child needs specific further supports through the assistive technology. It is an integrated approach.

I thank Senator Lombard for the opportunity to talk about the assistive technology scheme. It is such an important mechanism for providing technology for children with more complex needs. I look forward to the Senator's follow-up.

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